Harley Benton ST-Modern HSS LH LPB

Harley Benton ST-Modern HSS LH LPB review

The Harley Benton ST-Modern HSS LH LPB is a left-handed, ST-style electric guitar with a high-gloss Lake Placid Blue finish. Its listed price is 170, putting it in an entry-level range, while its specification includes a compound-radius fingerboard, locking tuners, and a push-pull control for splitting the bridge humbucker. Those details give the model a broader feature set than a basic six-string guitar, though the available owner feedback is more useful for judging its initial playability and value than for measuring every component in detail.

One left-handed player describes unpacking the guitar, tuning it, and taking it straight into regular use, particularly for smooth jazz recordings. The reviewer owns more than 20 left-handed guitars and rotates about 10 of them, so the favorable recommendation comes from someone with a substantial basis for comparison. Another owner says the instrument sounded good for the price and arrived ready to play, without the setup work they had come to expect from older guitars in this brand's range. These are individual reports, not a guarantee that every example will arrive with identical setup or feel.

Construction and neck specifications

The supplied specifications contain a body-wood discrepancy: one entry lists alder, while another says poplar. The available information does not establish which is correct, so buyers should confirm the body material with the seller rather than treating either entry as definitive. The neck is described as roasted, flamed Canadian maple, attached with a bolt-on joint. Laurel is listed for the fingerboard, which has dot inlays and rounded edges.

The 648 mm scale is equivalent to 25.5 inches, and the fingerboard radius changes from 305 mm to 406 mm, or 12 to 16 inches. The nut measures 42 mm wide and is made from graphite. A double-action truss rod has a wheel adjustment, and the neck profile is described as a smooth D shape. The guitar has 22 premium medium-jumbo nickel-silver frets. Together, these are specific, practical details for players comparing neck geometry, adjustment access, and fret size before buying.

Pickups and controls

The pickup layout combines a covered, custom-wound Alnico 5 humbucker at the bridge with custom-wound Alnico 5 single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions. A five-way switch selects the pickup combinations. The single volume control is joined by a tone control with a push-pull function that splits the bridge humbucker. That gives the player a way to move between the fuller bridge-humbucker sound and a split-coil option without adding another control.

The owner who uses the guitar for smooth jazz recordings offers a positive real-world impression, but the feedback does not provide detailed comparisons of the pickup positions, noise levels, or clean and overdriven tones. Treat the pickup specifications as a guide to the available configuration, not as proof of a particular sound. The three-ply mint-green pickguard and chrome hardware complete the stated appearance and control layout.

Tremolo, tuning hardware, and included items

A Sung-Il BS-213 synchronized deluxe tremolo system is fitted, along with Sung-Il ML-55 locking machine heads bearing the HB logo. The tremolo gives the guitar pitch-bending capability, while the locking tuners are a notable feature at this price. The supplied owner comments do not report specific tuning-stability tests or extended tremolo use, so those points remain to be assessed by a player after setup.

No case or gig bag is included. Buyers who need protection for transport should factor that additional purchase into the budget. The model is listed as available since October 2024, under item number 573406, and is sold as a single instrument. Its finish is specified as high-gloss Lake Placid Blue.

Verdict

The ST-Modern HSS LH LPB makes a persuasive value case for left-handed players who want an HSS pickup layout and useful hardware without moving beyond a modest listed price of 170. Its roasted maple neck, compound-radius laurel fingerboard, locking tuners, and coil-split control are substantial features on paper. More importantly, the available owner reports describe a guitar that arrived ready to play and earned a place in a working rotation.

There are limits to what can be concluded. Feedback is positive but brief, and it does not document fretwork measurements, setup tolerances, tremolo performance, or sound comparisons. The conflicting alder and poplar body entries also need clarification before purchase. Within those caveats, the reported playability and feature set make it a strong candidate for left-handed buyers seeking an affordable, versatile electric guitar. Check the body specification and setup policy with the seller, and remember that you will need to supply your own case or gig bag.